IS ILLNESS A PUNISCHMENT FROM GOD?

Illness and, in general, suffering has always been among the most serious problems in human life. In illness, man experiences his impotence, his limits, and his finitude. Every illness can make us glimpse death (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1500). Illness can lead us to anguish, to turning in on ourselves, sometimes even to despair and rebellion against God. But it can also make the person more mature and help him to discern in his life what is not essential, to turn to what is (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1501).

Christ took on suffering, making it an instrument of love, of redemption, of witness to the Father's love.

People who have suffered the most are usually mature, realistic and focused. Suffering causes a maturity in the human being and in the way of seeing life. To reach human maturity we have to learn to accept ourselves with everything we are and what surrounds us: the good and the bad, the pleasant and the painful, the comfortable and the annoying, etc. With an optimistic and positive attitude towards life, suffering can become the engine of our self-improvement and personal maturity. If we take an attitude of desperation and

pessimism, suffering can sink us.

Jesus makes it clear that it is not because of sin that there is sickness, pain, and suffering, but so that the glory of God may be manifested in people. Illness and death are great opportunities to unite ourselves to the saving mission of Christ, who took on suffering by making it an instrument of love, redemption and witness to the Father's love.

Sickness must make us seek and return to Christ and touch him; to experience life, which is Himself, and suffering is truly an instrument of good for our salvation. We need this supernatural dimension.

Fr. Claudio